MAJOR UPSET: Indonesian Ivanuddin Rifan Fauzin upsets top seed Derek Wong Zi Liang of Singapore 21-17, 21-12 to enter the men’s singles final of the Maybank Malaysia Kuching International Challenge Badminton Championship at the State Indoor Stadium. He will take on second seed Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif of Malaysia for the title today. — Photo by Davidson Kho l See Story Page 27
KUALA LUMPUR: The National team’s (Harimau Malaya) 0-1 defeat to Bahrain in the 2015 Asian Cup Qualifier at the Bahrain National Stadium yesterday was expected said National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong.
“From the beginning I had not placed high hopes on our National team, let alone when facing Bahrain at their own backyard.
“I watched the match…I saw some positive development in the National team…we created a number of chances and had a number of attempts at goal but lady luck was not on our side when it mattered most (scoring goals),” he said when met at the 2013 NSC-Media Sports Carnival’s bowling tournament at the Megalanes Bowling Alley in Endah Parade, yesterday.
Zolkples said though the National team coach Datuk K Rajagobal had failed to produce the expected results in the Asian Cup Qualifier, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) should be wise when reviewing the contract of the 57-year-old coach which expires at the end of the year.
“In terms of Key Performance Index (KPI), Rajagobal may have not met the expectation…but it will depend on the FAM to make a decision,” he said.
The defeat saw Malaysia remain fourth in Group D with four points from four matches.
Rajagobal’s boys next face Qatar at the Shah Alam Stadium on Tuesday before competing their fixture against Yemen at the same venue in March. — Bernama